Sequence-switch.



J. N. REYNOLDS & C. P. BALDWIN. SEQUENCE SWITCH. APPLICATION FIVLEDMAR.1,1913.

1,127,808. I Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

W/7/78 8 /n ven/a rs W John N Reyna/0's.

y Char/es F. Ba/aW/h. & by W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN N. REYNOLDS, OF GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT, AND CHARLES F. BALDWIN, OFMONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS T WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEWYORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SEQUENCE-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 1, 1913. Serial N 0. 751,547.

' T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN N. REYNOLDS and CHARLES- F. BALDWIN, citizensof the United States, residing at Greenwich, in the county of Fairfieldand State of Connecticut. and at Montclair, in the county of Essex andState of New Jersey, respectively, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Sequence-Switches, of which the following is afull, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to circuit control-.

- which is light in weight, cheap of construction and certain in action,and by means of which a large number of circuit changes may be effectedwith a minimum amount of apparatus.

Another object is the provision of a device of this character havingcontacts which are readily accessible for examination and so arrangedthat they will require little or no adjustment or attention after beingonce set up. u

Further objects and advantages will appear as the description of thedevice progresses.

This invention will be found useful for controlling electrical apparatusof many kinds. but is particularly designed for use in automatictelephone systems wherein certain operations must always occur in adefinite predetermined sequence.

The device consists briefly of asuitable frame wherein is mounted arotatable shaft having a series of disks of fiber or'other insulatingmaterial secured in fixed relation thereon. .On each side of eachinsulating disk is a disk or circular plate of conducting material whichis cut away orskeletonized in such a manner as to provide any desiredarrangement of contacts. The two plates associated with each insulatingdisk may and in practice generally will be electrically united by theirsecuring rivets. A plurality of springs or brushes is provided forcooperation with each conducting disk and it is obvious that by properlycutting away and arranging the plates on the insulating disk, any two ormore of the brushes ar ranged for engagement therewith may beelectrically united at any stage of rotation of the shaft. In thearrangement of the device for use in an automatic telephone systerm, theseveral conducting plates would be variously fashioned and the circuitcombinations performed by the separate sets of springs would in generalbe. entirely different. Motor mechanism is provided for rotating theshaft through its successive step by step movements. This mechanismcomprises a continuously rotating power member, a pair of friction diskscarried by the power member and the shaft, respectively, and anelectromagnet for causing effective engagement of said friction diskswhereby the switch shaft may be rotated. In practice-the rotation of theswitch shaft at certain points of its revolution will be interrupted andmeans are provided for definitely positioning the shaft at these times.

For a more complete description of this invention, reference is now madetothe accompanying drawings wherein,'-Figure 1 IS a side elevation ofthe device partly 1n section; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig.'3 is a view showing the shaft with one of theinsulating disks thereon and .the conducting plates arranged forengagement with each side of the disk; Fig. 4 is a detached perspectiveview showing the mounting clip for a brush set; and Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the positioning device detached.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

Referring now to the drawings in which the same reference character isapplied to the same part in the various figures, 1 represents a framemember having the right-angularly extending portions 2 and 3. Thearm 2at one end thereof is rebent to form the yoke shaped member 4. Themember 1 carries at the forward edge thereof a rightangularly projectingshelf or ledge 5. The ledge 5' is separated from the member 1 except atthe ends thereof by the slot 6, the

purpose of which will be hereinafter disclosed. Mounted between themembers 2 and 3 is a square shaft 7 one end of which has a bearing 8 inthe member 3. The other is to be understood, of course, that the yariousconducting plates employed in a single end of this shaft is reduced andscrew threaded. This screw threaded portion 9 has an opening 10 at theend thereof adapted to receive the reduced portion 11 on the end of thepin 12. The pin 12 extends through openings in the frame member 2and'the rebent portion 4 and is clamped therein by the yoke 13 and screw14, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Non-rotatably mounted on the shaft in spaced relation is a plurality ofdisks -15 of fiber or other insulating material; On each side of each oftheseinsulating disks is secured a disk or plate of conducting material16. These conducting plates are formed withxsegmental projections andarcuate cut out-portions whereby movable contacts are provided as shownmost clearly in Fig. 2. ,It

device will in general differ from each other although obviously thiswill dependv upon the system in which the device is employed or the useto which it is put. The plates 16 may be secured to the disk 15 by anysuitable means, that shown being rivets 17 which extend through the disk15 and both plates 16, whereby the plates 16 are electrically united.

Secured at the angle between member 1 and the ledge 5 is a plurality ofclips 18. These clips have portions arranged to engage with each of saidplates 1 and 5 and are held in position by screws 19 which extendthrough the slot 6. Each screw is provided with a washer 20 in orderthat the head thereof may be prevented from passing through the slot. Bythis arrangement the sets of brushesmay be readily adjustedlongitudinally of the shaft. The portion of the clip 18 which is inengagement with the ledge 5 is provided with the right-angularlyextending portion 21 to which the springs or brushes 22 are secured bymeans of the screws 23 and clamping plates 24. Theseveral springs 22 areinsulated from each other and from the screws 23 by the plates ofinsulating material 25. These springs are arranged at different levelsas shown most clearly in Fig. 2. In the embodiment ofthe inventionherein disclosed, two brushes are provided for engagement with thecontacts on each side of each disk 15 and all the contacts arranged onone side of the disk15 are shown as being electrically united. However,it is obvious 'that in practice more brushes and additional series ofcontacts maybe provided, or that any number of these contacts may beinsulated from each other, or that the conducting plates on theoppositesides of the disks may be electrically separated if it is so desired.Each clip 18 is arranged to support two-sets of brushes of four each,thus each' clip will accommodate the brushes having engagement with thecontacts'carmemos,

ried by two adjacent disks 15. As shown in Fig. 2, the brushes whichengage the contacts carried by the same metallic plate have their endspositioned at different radial distances from the shaft 7 so that onewill engage one set of contacts as 26, while the other will engage theother or outer series of contacts 27. The several disks 15 are separatedfrom each other and from the de' vices at opposite ends of the shaft bythe spacing sleeves 28. Between certain of the disks, however, sleeves29 of conducting material are provided, whereby the conducting plates ofthese disks may be electrically united. While only one conducting sleeve29 is shown on the drawing, it is obvious that as many of these sleevesas desired may be used and consequently any number of metallic platesmay be electrically united in one group or separate groups of theseelectrically unitedplates may be provided if desired.

This construction may be used for a variety' of purposes, for instance,if itis desired to impress electrical energy on a plurality of circuitsat one time, one brush may be used to connect the current generator toone of the plates 16 and the other brushes associated with theelectrically connected group of plates may be used to distribute theenergy to the circuits which it is desired to supply. At one end of theshaft -7 is located a disk with a cylindrical rim 30 having a scalethereon which, taken in connection with the pointed 31 secured to theyoke 4 by means of the screw 14, may be used to indicate the variouspositions which the switch assumes during one complete revolution. Nearthe other endof the shaft 7 is a disk 32 having a fluted edge 33. Thisdisk in addition to the fluted edge is formed near the circumferencethereof with a series of cut away portions 34. Arranged to cooperatewith the imperforate portion 35 of the disk 32 is a brush. 36, andcorrespondingly arranged to coiiperate with the interruptions 34 of thedisk 32 is a brush 37. This construction maybe used to complete thecircuit for the magnet 38 by' means of which the rotation of the switchshaft is controlled while the switch is passing from one position ofrest to another. The function of this device is to assure the passage ofthe switch from one position of "rest to the next.

Arranged with its edge adjacent to said disk 41 near the circumferencethereof and at right angles thereto is a friction disk 42 which isrigidly fixed to the power shaft 43. The controlling magnet 38 islocated adjacent to the disk 41 and is so arranged that upon itsenergization said disk will be attracted against the resiliency of itssupporting arms 40 into forcible engagement with the rotating member l2and the shaft 7 will thus be rotated. Each of the several elements whichare non-rotat-ably mounted on the shaft is provided with a squareopening through which the shaft extends, and are separated from eachother by spacing sleeves, as previously described, all being rigidlyclamped together by the nuts 44 and to threaded on the opposite ends ofsaid shaft. Cooperating with the fluted edge 33 of the disk 32 is aroller 46 held in forcible engagement with said disk by the spring arm47. This operates to bring the switch mem her to its exact position ofrest in case the energizing current for the controlling magnet 38 shouldbe cut off too soon, thus exactly positioning the contacts under thebrushes. It also operates to prevent accidental displacement of theswitch member. \Vhen it is desired that the switch member pass overcertain positions so that certain brushes may merely make passingengagement with their contacts or for other purposes which will beobvious to one skilled in the art, certain of the interruptions orperforations 34 may be omitted.

As it is obvious that many changes could be made in the minor details ofthis invention without departing from the spirit thereof, we wish itunderstood that we contemplate all such modifications and that theinvention is to be limited merely by the scope of the appended claims.

\Ve claim 1. In a sequence switch, a rotatable shaft,

projections whereby a plurality of series of contacts are provided, andbrushes adapted to successively engage the contacts of said series uponrotation of said shaft.

. 3. In a sequence switch, a shaft, disks of insulating material fixedthereto, a metallic plate secured on each side of each disk. each ofsaid plates being cut away to provide a series of contact portions,means for elec-' trically connecting said metallic plates in pairs,means for electrically connecting a plurality of pairs of metallicplates, means cooperate with the contact portions of said metallicplates whereby a series of circuit changes may be effected.

l. In a mechanical switch, a rotatable shaft, a plurality of insulatingdisks fixed thereto. contacts on opposite sides of said disks, saidcontacts being electrically connected, spacing sleeves of conductingmaterial between said disks whereby all the contacts on said severaldisks are electrically connected, and brushes arranged for engagementwith said contacts whereby a series of circuit changes may be effected.

5. In a mechanical switch, a rotatable shaft, a plurality of insulatingdisks fixed thereto, contacts on opposite sides of each of said disks,means for electrically connecting thecontacts on said plurality ofdisks, and brushes arranged for engagement with said contacts whereby aseries of circuit changes may be effected.

6. In a mechanical switch, a rotatable.

shaft having a plurality of operative positions, an insulating diskfixed to said shaft. electrically connected metallic disks one securedto each side of said insulating disk. each metallic disk being cut awayto provide a plurality of series of electrically connected contactportions, and brushes one for engagement with each of said series ofcontacts, said contacts being so arranged that different pairs ofbrushes will engage contacts at different positions of said shaft.

7 In a mechanical switch, a rotatable shaft, a plurality of insulatingdisks fixed thereto, contacts on opposite sides of each insulating disk,said contacts being electrically connected, spacing sleeves ofconducting material electrically uniting the contacts of a plurality ofdisks, spacing sleeves of insulating material whereby the contacts ofcertain other disks are insulated, and brushes arranged forengagementwith all of said contacts whereby a series of circuit changes maybe'eflected.

8. In a mechanical switch, a shaft, means for rotating said shaft to aplurality of positions pf rest. a disk on said shaft. a series ofcontacts on said disk, a brush for engaging said contacts upon rotationof said shaft. said brush being in engagement with said contacts exceptwhen the shaft is in one of its positions of rest. said disk beingfluted adjacent to the circumference thereof. and a spring pressedroller arranged for engagement with the flutes of said disk when saidshaft is in a position of rest.

9. In a mechanical switch, a rotatable disk of insulating material. ametallic disk secured thereto, a series of concentric arouate slots insaid metallic disk, the integral portions between adjacent ends of saidslots forming electrical contacts, and a brush arranged to cooperatewith said contacts upon the rotation of said disk.

10. In a mechanical switch, a rotatable disk of insulating material, ametallic disk secured to said insulating disk, concentric arcuate slotsin said metallic disk, the integral portions between adjacent ends of. a

said slots forming a series of electrical contacts, projections at thecircumference of said metallic disk forming a second series of contacts,and brushes arranged to cooperate Witnesses:

WALTER F. HOFFMAN, ,0. D. M. GUTHE.

